A BROADWAY businessman who wants to move his elderly mother-in-law, who is suffering from cancer, into his converted garage is hoping planners will approve his proposal.

Barrie Parmenter, who owns Tisanes Tea & Coffee Shop in Broadway, has submitted plans to Wychavon District Council to convert his garage in Lifford Gardens into living accommodation to house his 84-year-old mother-in-law, Doris.

Doris is currently living in Bexleyheath, and her cancer is in remission. But she is losing her sight and is also prone to having dizzy spells, so Mr Parmenter hopes planners will give the go-ahead for the conversion so she can be moved up from Kent as soon as possible.

He said he did not particularly want to convert his garage, but after planning officers frowned upon an earlier application to add an extension on top of the garage as looking 'too terracy' much like a terraced house, he feels as though he has no alternative.

He said: "Converting the garage is not something that I want to do, but we need her up here so we can keep an eye on her.

"I wanted to build an extension on top of the garage, but Wychavon said it would look too terracey, so converting the garage is the only option.

"I have a builder that can start in December, so I'm hoping they will approve the plans."

Wychavon District Council officers have been delegated to decide on the plans within the next eight weeks.